This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.

These chocolate frosted donuts are perfect to make in the runup to Christmas. They’re a tasty, sweet treat for Christmas morning and you can make them with just five ingredients. A chocolate doughnut reindeer starts off as a chocolate mini donut, and then M&Ms, mini pretzels, candy eyes, and melted chocolate are all you need to convert them into the cutest desserts you have ever seen! Everyone will want one. And since it’s Christmas and they’re made using mini donuts, you might want to serve everyone two!

A reindeer donut for Christmas parties and holiday treats.

Santa’s reindeers aren’t the only ones to expect over the holidays, not if you make no bake reindeer donuts. Nobody will be able to resist one with Christmas breakfast!

Expand your holiday menu with festive panettone bread, gingerbread trifle or eggnog cheesecake to complement the seasonal cheer.

Christmas cookies shaped like reindeer on a cutting board.

Why You’ll Love Them

Easy:  This is an incredibly simple recipe to make and you can make it in just a few minutes. So, if you have a lot of Christmas breakfast prep to do, add this recipe to the list because you can make the donut reindeer in 5 minutes flat!
Delicious: Reindeer donuts are a great treat for those with a sweet tooth. If you like chocolate, donuts and pretzels, you’re going to love these!
Festive: Not every festive treat is this quick and easy to make, so if you want to add extra fun to your holiday parties this year, you just have to make these festive red nose reindeer donuts.

Chocolate reindeer cookies with pretzels on a baking sheet, perfect for holiday baking.

Ingredients for Reindeer Christmas Mini Donuts

Along with chocolate mini donuts, you will need M&Ms, pretzels and chocolate chips. And that’s it!

Chocolate pretzels, candy canes, and pretzel sticks are key ingredients in this festive Christmas treat recipe.

How to Make Red Nosed Reindeer Donuts

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Add the eyes and nose:  Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, then dip each of the candy eyeballs and M&Ms in the melted chocolate and stick to the donuts.
Add the antlers: Dip the mini pretzel antlers into the melted chocolate and press into the donuts, then let the chocolate set and serve.

Chocolate reindeer cookies on a wooden cutting board.

Substitutions and Variations

Peanut M&Ms are ideal for Rudolph the reindeer donuts but if you prefer another variety that’ll work too. You can use any type of mini donuts here, although the chocolate ones look most like reindeer.

Christmas donuts adorned with pretzels and green eyes, perfect for a holiday celebration.

If you can only find plain donuts, you can add chocolate frosting on top and then proceed with the recipe or else use the plain ones without any frosting if you’d rather have that.

How to Serve Reindeer Mini Donuts

Enjoy these as part of a Christmas breakfast or for dessert. If you’re making a platter of tasty Christmas treats, other recipes that would pair well with reindeer donuts include nut brittle and Santa cupcakes.

Reindeer themed donuts with pretzels on a plate.

How to Store Reindeer Donuts

Store:  Leftovers will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container at room temperature. These should keep for as long as the mini donuts will keep since all you’re doing is adding candies and pretzels.
Freeze: If you freeze these, the candy eyes and M&Ms might come off and the pretzels will become soggy, so they’re best enjoyed fresh.

Reindeer themed donuts, perfect for Christmas.

Donut Reindeer FAQs

Can you make your own donuts to make reindeer donuts?

Yes, if you have the time and inclination! You will need a mini donut pan along with other donut making supplies like flour, sugar, baking powder and cocoa powder for the batter, and a piping bag. Grabbing a package of readymade ones from the store is so much easier though, and many stores carry a gluten free option.

Can you use another kind of candy instead of M&Ms?

You can use any small red candies to make the nose for the reindeer donuts. Skittles, Red Hots or just about any other small red candy would work if you aren’t an M&M fan.

Chocolate reindeer donuts on a plate with pretzels.

Rudolf The Reindeer Donuts Recipe

5 from 37 votes

Rudolf The Reindeer Donuts

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer donuts are an easy to make holiday treat. These reindeer treats are the perfect way to spread Christmas cheer.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 15

Ingredients 

  • 1 Bag donuts, mini, chocolate frosted
  • chocolate candy, peanut butter M&M’s or other
  • 1 Cup pretzels, itty bitty mini
  • candy eyes
  • ¼ Cup chocolate chips, for melting

Instructions 

  • Melt the ¼ cup of chocolate chips in the microwave for 30 second intervals.
  • Dip the back side of each candy eye and an M&M in the melted chocolate. Press the M&M into the center of the donut over the hole, and press the eyes on each side of the M&M.
  • Dip the bottom of the mini pretzel into the melted chocolate, and push the pretzel into the donut slightly so it will stay in place.

Nutrition

Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 116mg | Potassium: 20mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

Chocolate donut reindeer take just a few ingredients and 5 minutes to make and they make such cute desserts. Everything from the tiny pretzel antlers to the red M&M nose (some would even say it glows!) is cute and these are incredibly simple to make.

Other Recipes to Try

Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

You Might Also Like

5 from 37 votes (36 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




1 Comment